Define Of Books Revenge (aka The Stars’ Tennis Balls)
| Title | : | Revenge (aka The Stars’ Tennis Balls) |
| Author | : | Stephen Fry |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 320 pages |
| Published | : | May 13th 2003 by Random House Trade Paperbacks (first published October 31st 2000) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Contemporary. Thriller. Humor |
Stephen Fry
Paperback | Pages: 320 pages Rating: 3.8 | 4857 Users | 386 Reviews
Chronicle Supposing Books Revenge (aka The Stars’ Tennis Balls)
"We are merely the stars' tennis balls, struck and --bandied/Which way please them." ----The Duchess of Malfi --by John WebsterEverything about Stephen Fry's new novel, including the title, will be a surprise, perhaps even a shock. The only thing that can be guaranteed is that it will be his next earth-movingly funny bestseller. And we are still pretty confidently saying it will not be about earthworm migration patterns in East Devon.
This is the story of Ned Maddenstone, a nice young man who is about to find out just what hell it is to be one of the stars' tennis balls. For Ned, 1978 seems a blissful year: handsome, popular, responsible and a fine cricketer, life is progressing smoothly for him, if not effortlessly. When he meets Portia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. What if her left-wing parents despise his Tory MP father? Doesn't that just make them star-crossed lovers? And surely, in the end, won't the Fendemans be won over by their happiness? But, of course, one person's happiness is another's jealous spite. And spite is about to change Ned's life forever. A promise made to a dying teacher and a vile trick played by fellow pupils rocket Ned from cricket captain to solitary confinement, from head boy to political prisoner. Twenty years later, Ned returns to London a very different man from the boy seized outside a Knightsbridge language college. A man implacably focused on revenge. Revenge is a dish he plans to savour and serve to those who conspired against him, and to those who forgot him.
Describe Books To Revenge (aka The Stars’ Tennis Balls)
| Original Title: | The Stars' Tennis Balls |
| ISBN: | 0812968190 (ISBN13: 9780812968194) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Rating Of Books Revenge (aka The Stars’ Tennis Balls)
Ratings: 3.8 From 4857 Users | 386 ReviewsAppraise Of Books Revenge (aka The Stars’ Tennis Balls)
I was about ten pages into Revenge when it dawned on me that I had read it before. Another ten pages, and I realised I was reading the re-titled The Stars Tennis Balls, which I had read when first published in 2000 or so. It was an odd moment of Déjà vu, because I recall having the same feeling a quarter of the way through The Stars Tennis Balls, which is how long it took for me to realise it was a reworking of The Count of Monte Cristo. Slow, eh?Stephen Fry has, however, enough literary cloutIt took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a page-turner for sure; very well written. I liked seeing all the bits and pieces come together one by one.If it has a message, it might be that revenge is hollow and does not make you truly happy in the end. Be warned: there's a fair bit of violence.
At the outset: this is late twentieth century rendering of The Count of Monte Cristo. If you don't know that story, please don't read on any further - it will be spoiler-ridden (and maybe, you are from another planet).We all know what happens in The Count of Monte Cristo: Edmond Dantès, first mate of the ship Pharaon, who has recently been granted the succession of his captain Leclère, is trapped in a false intrigue by a group of people jealous of him for various reasons. The deputy crown
This is a crazy romp of a story. It is Stephen Frys rewritten version of The Count of Monte Cristo plot-wise at least, for which reason it is also published under the title Revenge (in the US), rather less subtle and completely lacking the reference to the line in John Websters play The Duchess of Malfi which reads: We are merely the stars tennis balls, struck and bandied which way please them. Fry has admitted that the story is a straight steal, virtually identical in all but period and style
With its storyline liberally lifted from The Count of Monte Cristo, Mr. Fry was astonished that no one picked up on his blatant plagiarism. But he doesnt merely steal the plotline by Alexandre Dumas pére. He expands on it and gives it a contemporary feel that never detracts from the relentless engine of the plot. With a protagonist who becomes tempered and hardened by his stint in prison, as well as multilingual, rich and mysterious, the stage is set for some twisted payback.In spite of its
Fair, competent, clever, moderately enjoyable, at some points something of a page-turner, but with a good many distracting implausibilities. Yes, it's a radical revision of the Monte Cristo storyline, so we must grant the novel some latitude in the way of believability, but that does not ameliorate its clunking, forced, improbable plot machinations. As one other reviewer carped, How did he get those removed nails to sink back into their holes -- while he was hidden inside the coffin? And how
At the outset: this is late twentieth century rendering of The Count of Monte Cristo. If you don't know that story, please don't read on any further - it will be spoiler-ridden (and maybe, you are from another planet).We all know what happens in The Count of Monte Cristo: Edmond Dantès, first mate of the ship Pharaon, who has recently been granted the succession of his captain Leclère, is trapped in a false intrigue by a group of people jealous of him for various reasons. The deputy crown
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.